Letters to the Editor

For Wednesday, August 18, 2010

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Aug 18, 2010

Jab at UH grads was offensive

Your story on the Mufi Hannemann campaign brochure ("Hannemann spins facts to run down Abercrombie," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 17) did a good job in capturing the offensive aspects and fallacies of this particular advertising.

As one of 161,000 graduates of the University of Hawaii, I was particularly offended that his brochure implies that Neil Abercrombie's UH education is inferior to Hannemann's Harvard education when it comes to equipping someone for political office.

I would remind the former mayor that both U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye and the late former U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink attended UH. They didn't do too badly. On the other hand, George W. Bush went to Yale and Harvard Business School. Draw your own conclusions.

Ben Yamamoto
Nanakuli

How to write us

The Star-Advertiser welcomes letters that are crisp and to the point (~175 words). The Star-Advertiser reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Please direct comments to the issues; personal attacks will not be published. Letters must be signed and include a daytime telephone number.

Innuendoes are passive violence

Neil Abercrombie has received numerous awards. One of the most prestigious was the Gandhi King Ikeda Peace Award for community building and upholding world peace from Morehouse College. Much more than a "best beard" award.

Abercrombie's refusal to return Hannemann's use of belittling innuendoes exemplifies Abercrombie's understanding that those are examples of passive violence and unbefitting a governor.

Mary Dias
Aiea

Children need more protection

The Star-Advertiser article ("When Daddy's name is 'Donor,'" Aug. 16) gives some of the best arguments against civil unions and adoption by same-sex couples.

If the goal of the supporters of same-sex unions is to satisfy and legitimize their own desires and feelings, then hopefully articles like this will suggest that children need more rights and protections against the reckless and selfish choices of adults.

Although it's possible for one parent or two same-sex parents or a multi-gendered household to raise a child, there is still a deep internal need for individuals to have connections to their biological parents. It may still be unknown what is creating that need, but it is obviously there.

Ben Strecker
Kailua

Wait for break in street traffic

The traffic on King and on Beretania comes in waves, due to the traffic lights on those streets. So the wise thing to do is to wait until there is a break in the traffic and not just charge out into six lanes and expect to cross safely. Teach kids to do this and not charge out like a man I once saw waving his cane at the six lanes of traffic. Wait and the traffic will break.

Nancy Bey Little
Honolulu

Public schools serve all students

What a wonderful and inspirational article about Campbell High School ("Raising the bar to find success," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 16).

I commend Mary Vorsino for writing a positive article about a public school. There are many more terrific stories that need to be told about public schools and their teachers and students. Public schools serve all students, including special needs students, not just the best and brightest.

I am a retired teacher from Pohakea Elementary and I am very proud of many of my students who attended Campbell and went on to college to become employed and contributing citizens of our state. Go Sabers!

Laraine Yasui
Pearl City

Attempts to educate about pedestrian safety have failed

I hope against hope that no more pedestrians will be maimed or killed when crossing Honolulu streets. I am very grateful that the latest child victim appears to be OK.

That said, I believe it is time for our public officials to admit that their attempts to educate drivers and pedestrians have failed. Despite their education efforts, some drivers and some pedestrians are simply education-resistant.

How many more human beings must be maimed or killed before our public officials solve this problem? Having been aware of the problem for far too long, I propose that there be no crosswalks without lights. And all such existing crosswalks should be blacked out immediately.

If this is done, more pedestrians will be alive and healthy as they get additional exercise by walking a bit more to get to an intersection with a lighted crosswalk.

I cannot be the only one sickened by this situation. Let's let our elected officials know that this problem must be solved right now!

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the TERMS OF SERVICE. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. Because only subscribers are allowed to comment, we have your personal information and are able to contact you. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. To report comments that you believe do not follow our guidelines, email commentfeedback@staradvertiser.com.